Parents reveal fatal impact of social media on young Australians

Wayne Holdsworth, who lost his boy Mac, has told of how he felt like he had “a voice” of all parents who’ve lost kids to social media as he called for change in parliament.

The dad of a boy who took his life after being “tortured and terrorised” on social media, said it was an emotional moment telling a panel of parliamentarians what drove his 17-year-old son to take his own life.

After the closed hearing on Wednesday, Wayne Holdsworth, who lost his boy Mac 48 weeks ago, said it was good to relay his son’s story and be heard by people who could do something about it.

While he has told his son’s tragic tale many times, he said he always found it emotional when telling people he didn’t know.

“It was really emotional,” Mr Holdsworth, from Melbourne, said. “They respectfully listened and I think it resonated with them.

“I felt like I had a voice on behalf of all the parents who have lost their children to social media.”

Emma Mason, whose daughter Tilly Rosewarne died aged 15 after being bullied on social media. Picture: Richard Dobson

Also giving a statement on Wednesday was Emma Mason from Sydney, whose daughter, Tilly Rosewarne, died aged 15 after being bullied on social media.

The pair are among a number of bereaved parents backing News Corp’s Let Them Be Kids campaign to raise the age of kids being allowed on social media to 16.

The joint select committee looking into the impacts of social media on Australians has heard from a number of the campaign’s supporters this week.

Mr Holdsworth said he told the committee how a scammer tricked his son into sending a nude photo of himself and then blackmailed him.

“He was contacted on Instagram and Snapchat,” Mr Holdsworth said. “This girl shared a nude photo of herself and he did the same thing.”

Wayne Holdsworth with his son Mac.

He said within minutes the scammer asked for $500, and Mac panicked and paid it. Then the man asked for another $500.

“In that next conversation, he said to Mac, ‘I got your $500, I want another $500. If you don’t pay it within five minutes I will share your photo and your parents will hate you and you will kill yourself’,” Mr Holdsworth said.

He also told the committee members, headed by Newcastle Labor MP Sharon Claydon, that there wasn’t enough education in schools about the dangers of social media.

Originally published as Parents reveal fatal impact of social media on young Australians